Stepladder



May 21, 1929. F. c. KNUTH i 1,714,028

STEP LADDER muuu /8 ff le? W @Non nu,

PatentedMay 21, 1929.

f f rlinnn c.v XNUTELDF AURORA, Anin-rifers.

-\ sTErLADnER.

- Applicationiled April 4, 1925. SerialI No. 20,688.

Artisans such asv paintersand-paper hang-l ers who-must use step ladders find the standard step ladder inconveniente because ofthe variation of height of rooms and heightk of men, vthe resultibeing that they must Work at n disadvantageupon `surfaces .that jmust, be

reached from ladders. The object ofy my in-v Vention is to overcome this by providing a stepthat may be applied to the ladder at such place or level between the fixed or permanent steps with which it is provided as the workmen may find most advantageous.

My invention consists in whatever is de` scribed by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a step ladder of standard or usual construction equipped with a step embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section; f

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the step attaching and supporting clips.

My invention contemplates the application to each side bar or vertical member of the step ladder of a clamp or clipwhich while easlly applied and removed, nevertheless forms a rigid and safe support for a step member that extends between two clips and struction except thatl they are rights and lefts or reversed.

Referring in detail to what is shown in the drawings, each clip comprises two L- shape membersl that are pivoted together by aligning eyes at the edges of the long and short legsrespectively, so that they may be closed upon or about the four sides of the ladder side baror vertical member, 10,7the long leg yof one angle member, 11, lying against the inner side of saidbar and the short leg lying next to the front edge of said bar, and the long leg of the other angle member, 12, lying against the outer side of said bar, 10, and its short leg lying'against the rear edge of said bar, the pivot pin, 13, being situated at the back inner corner. The long leg of the angle member, 11, has sharp spurs or projections, 14, adapted to penetrate the ladder vertical bar, 10, and the long leg of the other angle member, 12, has one or more similar spurs, one of such spurs, shown, to penetrate said4 ladder bar onthe outer side and thus the/clip is securely anthe weight of a man upon thestep, 16, supthese two clips are precisely similar in conv 15, being y chored against downward movement undery ported in the mannerY presently to be described bythe two clips. The long leg of' the anglemember, 12,v is extended a substan-V tial distance to'form a handle, 17 to enable enough leverageto be exertedin applying the clip to the ladder bar as will causethe penetrationV vof the spurs into said lbar land said handle aordsy a convenient means of opening andclosing the clip-.upon the bar..`

When the clipis applied to the bar the two angle members are securely locked in bar engaging position as by means of an eye, 18, upon the short leg of the angle member, 11, that passes through a hole or slot, 19, in the long leg ofthe angle member, 12, and a pin, 20, that is rinserted through the pro- ]ecting port-ion of the eye which pin is prefeasily effected, for with the outer angle member, 12, yunlatched, it may pivot until its short leg ali ns with the long leg of. the inner angle mem er, as shown on dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus the two clips with the step mounted thereon may be passed between the two vertical side bars, 10, of the ladder. n f

My clips may be made of heavy sheet metal stamped into the desired shape and the various arts assembled and united by rivets or ot innerangle member and the socket being thus formed in one piece and the outer angle'member bein formed of a single piece.

What claim is: v V1.` A step attachment for ladders that have be swung on its permanent regularly spaced steps comprising clips, adapted to be applied ,to and removed from the ladder side bars and step supporting means carried by the clips extending between'the side b ars and supporting the step in line with the permanent steps ofthe ladder,

said clipswholly supporting said step inde-1 erwise or the parts may be cast, thev erably a part of a hook, 2l, that is pivotedA porting means carried by the clips extending between the side bars and supportingtlie 'step in line with the permanent steps of the ladder, each clip comprising inner and outer angle members hinged together and meansl to hold them in bar engaging position. n

3. A step attachment for ladders comprising clips, adapted to be applied to and re'- moved from the ladder side bars and step supporting means carried by the clips extending between theV side bars and supporting the step in line with the'permane'nt steps `oi the ladder, each clip comprising inner and outer angle members hinged together and means to hold them in bar engaging position, and a ladder engaging socket carried by the inner member.

4Q A step attachment for ladders compris to be applied to and ing Clips, each eornprisingzmemberson opposite sides of the ladder, side bars and connections between said members extending 'from one tothe other wholly at the front and back edges of Vthe side bars, respectively, adapted removed from the ladder side bars, said clips having surfaces only for external engagement of the side bars and stepsupporting means carried by each clip, and comprising opposite `step-receiving sockets having bottom, side and top Walls, each receiving a portion ofthe step to be supported thereby andengaging the step and restrainingit from vertical and horizontal movement. In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signatiire;

FRED o. KNUTH. 

